Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: May 24, 2001

Contact: John Wright 202-208-6416

David L. Bernhardt of Colorado to Head Congressional
and Legislative Affairs Office at the Interior Department

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today praised President Bush's appointment of David Longly Bernhardt, a Colorado attorney, to be Director of the Department of the Interior's Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs and Counselor to the Secretary. The appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation and becomes effective immediately.

"David Bernhardt's legal background and broad based legislative experience will be an important asset to this Department," said Norton. "David's wealth of experience and knowledge of the legislative process will be key to our working closely with Congress and also in keeping with the President's mandate of changing the tone in Washington."

Before taking the position at the Interior Department, Bernhardt was an attorney with Brownstein, Hyatt and Farber, P.C., a well-known law firm headquartered in Denver Colorado. He worked in the firm's Legislative and Public Policy Group since 1998.

Prior entering into private law practice, Bernhardt served nearly six years on Congressman Scott McInnis' (R-CO) staff. During his tenure, he served as an Associate to the House Committee on Rules and Legal Counsel/Legislative Director for Congressman McInnis. While serving on Congressman McInnis' staff, he was the Congressman's liaison to the Speaker's Planning Advisory Team and to the House Republican Leadership's Tobacco Task Force. Mr. Bernhardt also served as the Congressman's point person on the Colorado Ute's Indian Tribe water rights settlement. During his tenure with Congressman McInnis, he negotiated numerous legislative measures relating to energy, public lands, natural resources and the environment.

Bernhardt, is a native of Rifle Colorado. He earned his B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Northern Colorado in 1990, and a J.D. degree with honors, from The George Washington University National Law Center in 1994.

Mr. Bernhardt is a member of the Colorado Bar and the author of Guiding Principles in Informational Policy: The Rules are Changing, The Colorado Lawyer, April 2000.

He is married to Gena Rae Bernhardt and resides in Arlington Virginia.

- DOI -